Bill Beckner stories, Page 63

Sophomore Erica Rodriguez got credit for an RBI earlier in the game when she was issued a bases-loaded walk. With her team’s season on the line in the seventh inning, she earned her next two RBIs. And Greensburg Central Catholic earned another trip to the WPIAL semifinals. With a full...

The stairway to seven began with a glimmer of hope and a confident approach. It ended with a crazy comeback, a roaring celebration and maybe a few bumps and bruises. Heavyweight fights tend to leave a mark. “We were down and bleeding and needed stitches,” Southmoreland softball coach Todd Bunner...

Strike out 16, club a couple of home runs and sell the underdog role, and watch any team sprint forward in a playoff bracket. That sure was the right mix for unbeaten Shaler on Wednesday in the WPIAL Class 5A softball quarterfinals. “Those are the staples,” coach Tom Sorce said...

Bailey Snowberger said softball is a game of failure. Her Norwin teammate, Alyssa McCormick, mentioned how the sport hinges on teammates picking each other up. “One day you can go 0 for 4, the next you might go 4 for 4,” said Snowberger, a junior shortstop. “You never know what’s...

WPIAL softball playoffs Class 3A Quarterfinals 7-Yough (10-4) vs. 2-Southmoreland (15-2) 3 p.m. Thursday at Norwin Winner plays: Winner of 11-Ligonier Valley (9-7)/3-Waynesburg (15-3) in semifinals (date, time, site TBD) Players to watch: Mikaela Etling, Southmoreland; Adoria Waldier, Yough Extra bases: Yough rallied to get past Ellwood City in the...

For five-plus innings, it was an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel that seemed to set the game back to a time when the circle was 40 feet away from home plate instead of 43. A time when hits were sparse and foul tips were an accomplishment. But when offense finally showed up...

With the tight confines of Plum’s softball field, home run hitters often can have a blast sending bombs over the short fence. But the dimensions can mess with a pitcher. One false move, one flinch and the ball is gone. “I love playing here because of the turf,” Burrell senior...

For the first time, players other than seniors will play in the Roundball Classic. Nine all-star games are set for later this week at Geneva College’s Metheny Fieldhouse, but they will involve the top senior players from the WPIAL, City League and District 10. Organizers added three boys underclassmen games...

WPIAL softball playoffs Class 6A Quarterfinals 3-Norwin (14-5) vs. 6-Canon-McMillan (7-11) 5 p.m. Wednesday at Gateway Winner plays: 2-Hempfield (16-3) May 24 (time, site TBD) in semifinals Players to watch: Bailey Snowberger, Norwin; Morgan Doyle, Canon-McMillan Extra bases: Norwin is hoping for a third matchup with rival Hempfield in what...

The Presidents’ Athletic Conference selected Saint Vincent senior lacrosse standout Brody McMahon as its defensive player of the year and also put him on the all-conference first team. Senior attacker Jordan Billet, senior midfielder Caleb Hawkins, sophomore faceoff specialist Brady Beard, graduate short-sticker Max Schuler and grad goalie Noah Sperling...

When Cassie Vidic is grooving her pitches, you might hear a grunt or two come from the Hampton sophomore right-hander. “I don’t know. I guess maybe it helps me throw harder and pitch better,” she said of the low-volume sound that signifies a little extra oomph and mph. Vidic was...

WPIAL softball playoffs Class 3A 4-Burrell (11-5) vs. 13-Mt. Pleasant (11-8) 3 p.m. Tuesday at Plum Winner plays: Winner of 5-Mohawk (11-4)/12-South Park (11-5) Thursday (time, site TBD) in quarterfinals Players to watch: Katie Armstrong, Burrell; Sophia Smithnosky, Mt. Pleasant Extra bases: The only all-Westmoreland matchup in any bracket matches...

Seton Hill baseball has ruled the PSAC West, so it is no surprise the Griffins cleaned up in postseason awards. Marc Marizzaldi was named the division coach of the year, while Jack Whalen (Norwin) picked up freshman of the year honors for the Griffins, who won their third PSAC title...

It should not come as a surprise that Greensburg Central Catholic is a WPIAL Class 2A boys track and field champion for the first time. The roster is chock full of talented athletes who play multiple sports, so putting all of that talent into one lineup should produce points. Take...

WPIAL softball playoffs Class 5A First round 7-Franklin Regional (11-6) vs. 10-Moon (6-8) 4 p.m. Monday at Peterswood Park, Peters Township Winner plays: Winner of 2-Shaler (16-0)/15-Bethel Park (6-10) Wednesday (time, site TBD) in quarterfinals Players to watch: Toryn Fulton, Franklin Regional; Ava Karpa, Moon Extra bases: Franklin Regional tied...

Hannah Shaw School: Norwin Sport: Track and field Class: Senior Claim to fame: Shaw broke Norwin’s girls pole vault record by clearing 12 feet, 7 inches at the Last Chance Meet at Norwin Knights Stadium. The previous record was set by Kasey Kemp, at 12-6, in 2011. Shaw then cleared...

Don’t close the book on basketball season just yet. It’s Roundball week. The Roundball Classic all-star basketball games return with nine games across Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Geneva’s Metheny Fieldhouse. Teams will feature top senior players from the WPIAL, City League and District 10. Local players selected were Lilly...

New Norwin football coach Mike Brown has filled out his staff for the upcoming season. Assistants will be Conner Schultheis, Rocco Yauger, Anthony Giansante, Diandre Cooper, Joe Lauricia, Jon Lochiatto, Josh Lugai, Matt Gornall, Ray Reitz, Jackson Pruitt, Justin Hall and Bill Brown, his father. Brown did not announce the...

Several Franklin Regional teams earned the right to compete for championships in the WPIAL spring sports postseason. Teams in softball, boys track and field, girls track and field, girls lacrosse and boys tennis all qualified for the playoffs. The eighth-seeded tennis team cruised to a 4-1 win in the Class...

WPIAL softball teams waited with anticipation most of Thursday for the outcome of one last section game so they could see the playoff seedings and brackets. Some practiced to stay busy, while others played nonsection games. It sure beat twiddling their thumbs. Imagine how the teams playing that all-important final...

Ron Prady has been saying it since he took over as Latrobe’s football coach. Watch out for Alex Tatsch. Prady believes the sophomore linebacker has limitless potential and one day will be playing at a high level of college football. “He’s going to be really good,” Prady said. At least...

Playing her last game on her home field, Madie Kessler wanted to leave a lasting impression. So the senior catcher did what she has done so many times before on Norwin’s turf: She hit bombs. Kessler enjoyed the first home run so much, she hit another one, both on deep...

It is rare for a section game, especially one with such potential significance on a tournament bracket, to be played on the same day as the WPIAL playoff pairings meeting. But that will be the case Thursday when No. 2-ranked Hempfield (15-2, 12-2) visits No. 1 Seneca Valley (15-1, 14-1)...

After going 3 for 3 with four RBIs, first baseman Chuck Fontana III had one more hit lined up Tuesday. As his teammates gathered in left field to celebrate a nerve-racking victory, the Penn-Trafford junior ducked into the dugout and swiped the water cooler. He carried it quietly to the...

Belle Vernon alum Mark Diethorn has joined the football coaching staff at Michigan State. Diethorn, 37, was hired as the program’s executive director of player personnel and recruiting. It won’t be his first go-round at the Power 5 level. Diethorn worked similar jobs at Virginia Tech (2018-21), Pitt (2012-17) and...